Texas - Jury Duty Employer Obligations

In Texas, employers are required to provide you with unpaid time off for reporting to jury selection or jury duty. You may have to show your employer your jury summons in order to be given the necessary leave.

Your employer can never punish you for missing work to attend jury duty. However, if missing work would cause your employer undue hardship, it may be considered as an acceptable jury duty excuse.

Texas law does not currently require employees to be paid for leave due to jury duty.

There is also no state or federal law that prevents an employer from requiring an employee to use vacation or other paid leave time for jury duty. It is advisable to check company policies at your place of employment.

You will receive a nominal jury duty payment from the State of Texas for each day you serve on a jury, as well as potential reimbursements for travel expenses. However, jury duty pay tends to be a token amount rather than actual compensation.

A private employer may not terminate, threaten to terminate, penalize, or threaten to penalize, a permanent employee because the perform their jury duty obligations.

You should be sure to show your employer your Texas jury duty summons letter when you receive it, and update them with your jury duty dates if you are assigned to a trial, to ensure that you receive your mandatory time off.

The employer may be found guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

A discharged employee may, within two years of jury service, being and action for reinstatement to their former position and damages equal to 1 to 5 years of wages at the rate compensated when summoned; and reasonable attorney's fees in an amount approved by the court.

If you have been punished for missing work due to jury duty, contact the joror office of the court that summoned you, and they will assist in ensuring that your rights are protected.